Wire stretcher



June 1o, 1924. 1,4975237 I J. G. HERNDQN WIRE STRETCHER Filed Julyy 13.1923 2 Seetf #Sheet 1 3mm/Hoz Jj@ Helm/001g.

s 5 a w m M June `l() 1924 l WIRE STRETCHER rl'led July 15. 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 2 5.5% HER/V00@ 33"# few,

Patented .lune` 10, 1924.

UN T D s insign OFFICE.

JOHNYG. HER-NEON, OF MAR-SHALL, MISSOURI.

WIRE STBETCHEB.

Application filed .Tuly 13, 1923. Serial No. 651,422.

a citizen of the United States, residing atv Marshall, in the county ofSaline and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Wire Stretcher, of which the following isaspecilieation.

This invention relates to tools used in wire fence work and one of theprimary objects of the invention is toy provide an improved combinationtool, `which is particularly adapted for stretching line wire and foruse asa single lever stretcher for bringing the Wire about an end post,after the wire has been attached to the intermediate posts.

Another prime object of the invention is to provide an eiiicient wirestretching tool embodying a Apair of pivotally connected rack bars andanoperating and wire stretching lever adapted to be moved in a step bystep movement along said bars, the lever being detachably associatedwith the rack bars, whereby the same can be used asa single lever forstretching the wire.

A' still further object of the invention is to provide ank improvedcombination wire stretching tool of the above character, which will bedurable and eilicient in use, one that will be simple and easy tomanufacture and one which can ybe placed upon the market at a reasonablecost.'

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formationof parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure lis perspective view of the improved tool, showing the same inuse for stretching a line wire.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective. view showing the opera-ting lever usedas a sin-V gle lever wire stretcher.

Figure '3 is a top plan view of the operating lever, showing the sameused as a single lever wire stretcher. Y v

Figure et is an enlarged detail perspective view of the wire holding dogor. clamp.

Figure 5 is a transverse section through the improved wire stretchingtool showing the operating lever in edge elevat-ion. l

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the construction of`one of the 'rack bars' in detail.;

F igure? is a detail transverse section through the operating levertaken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Referring to the 4drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letterA generally indicates the improved wire stretching tool, whichcomprises a pair of elongated bars 10 and 11. These bars are provided attheir inner ends with oppositely extending right angularly disposed arms12 and 13 respec-` e tively. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 6 ofthedrawings the bars 10 and 11 are pivotally connected together by means ofa pin 14 at the point of connection of the arms 12 and 13 therewith. Theterminals of the arms 12 and 13 receive short chains Y 15 and 16 whichare connected toa common eye 17. The eye 17 in turn carries an attachingchain 18, which is adapted to be brought about a suitable post or otheranchored member 19 and the free end thereof is adapted to be secured tothe ring 17 by means of a hook 2O carried thereby. The outeredgesof thebars 10 and 11 are'provided with rack bars 21 and 22 respectively, eachof which consist of a plurality of notches or teeth. As clearly shown inFig ure 1 of the drawings the outermost teeth of the arms 10 and 11 areprovided with relatively deep notchesv 23 for a purpose, which will behereinafter more fully described. Y

Mounted upon the bars 10 and 11 is the operating lever 25 which inconnection with .the bars form means for stretching a line`wire/designated by the reference character B. The inner'end of thelever 25 is pro vided with a guide strap 26 through which the outer endofthe strap are cut an anglel as atk 28 to lprovide a sharpened fulcruinpoint 29, for a purpose, which `willalso be hereinafter more fullydescribed. The inthe lever 25 by rneansoffa spacing. block 30 whichalsoforms a partk of the wire holding means, as will be hereinaftermore'fullyk `ap karent. 4 v 4 n l pin 31 extends through the guide strapner end of the guide strap 26 is secured vrto' `,holding dog'and;thehguidefstrap 321s,

26 and lever 25 for engaging the teeth of the rack `bar 21. in order topermit the lever to be advanced along the rack lhars in a step hy stepmovement. A second guide strap32 clearly shown in detail in Figure 5ofthe drawings. This y Wire engaging clamping dogl is of as'ubstantialjbellcrankfcon;

figuration Iand the holt passes'rthrough Aopen' iiigfgti v1formed inythefangle thereof.,l Onev end ofthe, dog! Bis'` providedY with Wirelbiting tee'th l137 which" are arrangedwinxy anarciiateiline.' so thatasfthe tension on the .wirefis increased, the dog .will tendto biteImore firmly Ein'totlie' Wire aiidfforce. the same in'l tighter eontactiWith L.the spacing blockBO. "Thevoppositeendof the dogforms a thumby'piece vforJper'init'tingl the manipulationthereof by the thumb oftheuser.

It is also to be noted at this point ,that the teeth or notches oftherack bars 2ly and 22 atthe inner ends of the bars l0 and 1l are formedless-in depth Athan the notches at the .outer ends'of the bars, and thisprevents the `4vf'eakeningof the barsfat a point,` Where the greateststress Aoccurs i thereon during the f stretching fof the Wire.

The bar 115 'which Worksbetvveen the Wire f pivoted on toplof `theopposite bar 10. This makes the bars and the lever llineupV true. In useof thetool forstretching .line Wire,

the chain 18 ishooled about'tliepostior4 other anchoredy member 191 andthe operating lever is placed upon the bars 1Q and 1l With',l thefpins3l and 34 in engagement With the deep end notches 23r which Vholds thelever against displacement. Now the Wire B is placedfin engagementAWitlithe outer faceof Y the blockzO'and )the thumb ofthe user is placedupon the outer end/,of the dogso as to move theteeth' formed thereoninto -intimate vContact ivithithey Wire fThelever 5 now swungbaclvvafrd.andffQrWardA so as to iirstmovethe pini-ll intoengagementwith: the next adiacent toothl of tl'ierack bar 2 2.; This operation` iscontinuedY and the lever step yby i. step. 'movement ',"Whicli:y ybringsabout the easy; stretchingfof tlieflifne `vvire. :After the Wirefisstretched, jtliejgsanie is secured to Whiclfthe dogis moved from outcof.; engage;

. mei-lierre@wirbymens efzinaaiffpra A l offtlfie'n ii'ser vonf theouter endbfthedog."

n The leverV 25 ,j can befiised by v The end'ofthe guide strap 32 lonsaidb'arsa blockgan.angle-shaped d j pivotallyr-seciiredTat yitsianglfla-,bet

guias@ and wir@ biting' 'aan fiiiieirigentiigi'ao effectively stretchingthe Wire, to permit the same to be secured to the end post or permit theWire to be brought around an end oi corner post.- l/Vlien the' lever isIused by itself for this purpose, the Wire to be stretched is secured tothe lever in the same manner as heietofore described, While thesharpened fulcrum point 29 is placed in en gagement With the end orcorner post and the lever is swung on this point, which Willveffectively stretch the Wire and permit the same to be easily securedto the post.

From the foregoing description it1 can'be seen that I have provided anexceptionally simpleanddurable Wire stretcher Wh'ichi'can beeiiectivelyvused [for bothI stretchingfline.

Wires and for permitting the; connection 'of the Wireto an end orcornerpost` Changes in details-7 may be made Without departing from the"spirit or the scope'fof thisiiivention. Y Y

VVhatI claim as nlevvis:

1.` A Wire stretching tool comprisingza,

of the racl'rbars,v an anchoring chain'-con- 1- pair ofpivotallyconnected rack-'bars .ange-1., larlyl extending arms yformed onthe-raclf-f bars, and arranged outwardly A'of thepivotv nected to theouter terminals of the armsfanfoperating lever mounted upon the rack*bars t for 'movement t-hereovery step- Yby stepy-and a iviie clampcarried bythe lever for receiving the line Wire to be stretched, Y

2. A Wire stretching tool-comprising a pair .of members each includingaflongitudi-g nally extending bar having teethv formed fon the'oiiteredge thereof and a right -angii'larly disposed arm, means connecting themembers together at their angle for swiijigingfmovement, anchoring`chainsl connected 'tothe' outer terminals of the arms forfr'no'rmallyswinging the Vbars awayfrom each other, ani

operating lever, guides carried bylthe operating lever for receiving thebars, means on said bars, the lever beingadaptedI fora a wire clampcarried by the lever.

.carried by the guides for engagingthe teeth,

3. Pg'wire stretchingjtool comprising'a4 pair of L-shaped members eachincludingan elongated bar and a' right angularlydis posed arm, the barshaving'rack ft-eeth".

lformed ontheir outer longitudinal'fedges,

means pivotally connecting the nien'iberstof' gether at their angles,attaching chains lcon-1 nected tothe outer terminals ofthe arms for`connection with yan anchoredinfembe r` for normally swinging the harslawayfroiii,

one ,anotherVan operating y, lever,y a-painpf receiving saidlbars .l topermit vthel sliding y U v p spaced guidesinounted ljuponthe levei-for-jthe fence posti in any ypreferred "Way after Y' VVassociationoflsaidleverWiththe'barsf J carried by y the giir'des .for engagingtheteethnV 4. A Wire stretching tool, comprising e pair of pivoted rackbars, means connecting the rack bars to an anchored member, an operatinglever slidably mounted upon the rack bars, pins carried by the lever forengaging the teeth of the rack bars, and a Wire 10 clamp carried by thelever, the outermost teeth of the rack bars being formed relatively deepto form seats for the pins to permit the convenient initial attachmentof the Wire to be stretched to said clamp.

In testimony whereof I alii); my signature 15 in presence of twoWitnesses.

JOHN G. HERNDON.

Vitnesses l JOHN N. ADAMS, MARIE NIEMEIER.

